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A. Philip Randolph − African American labor leader Executive Order 8802 − World War II measure that assured fair hiring practices in jobs funded with government money bracero program − program in which laborers were brought from Mexico to work on American farms

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internment − temporary imprisonment of members of a specific group
Korematsu v. United States − Supreme Court case that upheld the government’s wartime internment policy 442nd Regimental Combat Team − Japanese American combat team that became the most decorated military unit in American history rationing − system that limits the amount of certain goods people can buy Office of War Information (OWI) − encouraged support of the war effort

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Objective questions: 1. What were the reasons for & impact of the Allies’ “Europe First” strategy? 2. Why were the battles of Stalingrad & Midway major turning points in the war? 3. How did the Allies put increasing pressure on the Axis in North Africa & Europe?

•Explain how World War II increased opportunities for women & minorities. •Analyze the effects of the war on civil liberties for Japanese Americans & others. •Examine how the need to support the war effort changed American lives.

WWII stirred patriotism even as it brought out long-simmering fears & tensions. Americans from different backgrounds living in different places across the country made huge sacrifices to support the war effort.

Wartime America saw industries gearing up to produce military goods. Unlike the past, women worked in both light & heavy industries & had long-lasting effects. With men joining the army in huge numbers, women stepped into jobs in businesses & factories.

African Americans hoped for similar job opportunities, but were disappointed. African American Labor leader A. Phillip Randolph urged Roosevelt to end discrimination in govt-funded training, employment, & military service. Under pressure, FDR issued Executive Order 8802.

Assured fair hiring practices in government jobs

Migration patterns changed as people moved across the country—especially to cities—seeking jobs in wartime industries.

Bracero program
• To alleviate the loss of workers in rural areas, Mexican

laborers were brought in to work on American farms.

• Agricultural industries would continue to hire migratory labor in the West for years to come.

Wartime fears also led to discrimination against Americans from Germany, Italy, and Japan. In time, suspicion focused on Japanese Americans. They were targeted for a combination of reasons.
• Racism • Lack of political clout • Their fewer numbers and relative isolation

internment − temporary imprisonment of members of a specific group

By executive order, more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were forced to sell their homes and belongings.

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Still, when the military ban on Japanese Americans was lifted in 1943, many eagerly joined the 442nd

Regimental Combat Team − Japanese American combat team that became the most decorated military unit in U.S. history

Some Japanese Americans went to court to fight for their civil liberties.

The Facts
• In 1942, FDR ordered that select people could be banned from war zones. • The army relocated Japanese Americans on the West Coast to internment camps. • Fred Korematsu was arrested for resisting the army’s orders.

The Issue
Korematsu argued that he was denied equal protection under the law because he was a Japanese American.

The Decision
The court held that the military order was justified for security reasons.

The war effort had a huge effect on the economy.

• The national debt skyrocketed. • Taxes increased.

• Wages and prices were controlled.

As industries cranked out military goods, consumer goods became scarce.

The Office of War Information worked with the media to encourage support of the war effort Americans:

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rationing − system that limits the amount of certain goods people can buy